Abraham and the Angels

In the Old Testament we read of the meeting between Abraham, the
first of the great Hebrew patriarchs, and the three angels who
symbolized the Holy Trinity , but until the 17th century the
subject was rarely treated in Italian art. After the Reformation,
the range of themes available to artists broadened
considerably.

According to the Holy Scripture, Abraham was sitting at the tent
door in the heat of the day when three men appeared before him. He
welcomed them and with the traditional hospitality of the nomad
brought them food, not knowing that they were angels. Over the meal
one of the visitors predicted that Abraham's childless and ageing
wife Sarah would bring him a son.

Ricci shows the final moment in the story when the angels reveal
themselves to Abraham and predict his future. In fright and
reverence the old man falls to his knees. Energetic gestures, large
flowing folds of drapery and impressive light contrasts are
combined within a balanced, strict composition.

The art of Sebastiano Ricci started the period of heyday of
18th-century Venetian painting.

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